Shrewsbury St. ready for annual Taste

An annual event that draws a big crowd to the city is Taste of Shrewsbury Street.

This year’s Taste is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. June 18.

For $25, participants get a button, allowing them to sample food dished out by restaurants and pubs along “Restaurant Row.” Visit www.shrewsburystreet.org/tasteofshrewsburyst.htm to purchase buttons. Sponsors also are listed on the site.

Guests will be treated to entertainment in addition to great food at Taste. New restaurants have been added to the event, so take the opportunity to see what the chefs have on their menus.

The Mass Farmers Markets’ annual Strawberry Dessert Festival, which began June 7, continues through July 7 at eateries throughout the state.

Chefs and bakers who have signed on to participate in the festival will use fresh berries to create strawberry desserts for customers. Each eatery will donate a percentage of sales from the strawberry dessert to Mass Farmers Markets’ mission as the only statewide nonprofit organization working to sustain and strengthen the farmers market system.

“Our Strawberry Dessert Festival is a great opportunity to support local farmers and farmers markets while enjoying the incredible taste of New England strawberries,” said Jeff Cole of Sutton, executive director of Mass Farmers Markets. “I think this is a great way to support your local farmer beyond the farmers market,” said Cole.

Tomasso Trattoria in Southboro and Armsby Abbey in Worcester are local restaurants participating in the Strawberry Dessert Festival.

Tomasso Trattoria has prepared a strawberry and rhubarb shortcake with a mascarpone gelato for diners to enjoy.

Armsby Abbey uses berries from Tougas Farm in Northboro in strawberry desserts and cocktails. The restaurant will donate 50 percent of all proceeds from the items to Mass Farmers Market, according to its website, www.armsbyabbey.com.

Note: For a list of pick-your-own strawberry farms and events and festivals in the state, visit www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/map.htm.

Approximately 130 local farms offer fresh strawberries, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

Due to the cold spring rains and intense, summer-like heat waves in the past few months, the timing of crops has varied slightly among farms. The DAR reported that some local farmers have determined their season to either be a little early or on time compared to past strawberry seasons.

Many farmers will kick off their official strawberry season within the next two weeks.

Good advice is to call before you head out to a farm to pick berries.

The season is short, but you can’t beat the taste of local berries.

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A special celebration and fundraiser for Abby’s House in Worcester, the AbbyGala, will be held June 22 in Alden Memorial on the WPI Campus, 100 Institute Road, Worcester.

The event to “Celebrate the Resiliency of Women” will take place from 6 to 10 p.m.

Natalie A. Mello of Paxton, president of the board of Abby’s House, said AbbyGala “is a very special event that is different from other past fundraisers we have had.”

The evening not only will include a fabulous menu from Chartwells at WPI, but also will feature music, dancing, laughter and silent and live auctions, all in support of the mission and women of Abby’s House, according to Mello.

Participants include emcee and comedian Jon Ljunberg and SloGrass, a local bluegrass band.

Mello explained that board members at Abby’s House started planning for the fundraiser about 18 months ago. She said WPI and its Student Development and Counseling Center have partnered with Abby’s House for the AbbyGala.

“WPI’s Student Development and Counseling Center is a tremendous student support network,” said Mello. “It does amazing outreach and training.

“Violence against women is not going away, despite all of our best efforts,” said Mello. “There is greater need today for resources for women than ever before. We see it every day at Abby’s House.”

Abby’s House was among the first shelters for women, with or without children, in the United States, according to its mission statement. “Since 1976, Abby Kelley Foster House (Abby’s House) has provided more than 11,500 homeless women and children with a safe place to stay, regroup and rebuild.”

Presently, “Abby’s House is one of two family shelters in the area that does not require its guests to be on welfare. With 78 units, it is the largest provider of affordable housing in Worcester designed to meet the needs of women and children.”

The Buy-A-Bed Campaign at Abby’s House was launched in January. It costs Abby’s House $35 per bed per night to provide a homeless woman or child with someplace to sleep. Donations to the campaign of $35 or more have raised more than $24,000 to date. The goal is $35,000 by Dec. 31.

Visit the Abby’s House website for more information and to donate to the campaign.

Support Abby’s House in any way you can.

The AbbyGala is a great place to start.

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The Jenkins Inn & Restaurant, 7 West St., Route 122 at North Barre Common, Barre, will serve Father’s Day dinner, June 16, from 1 to 5 p.m.

For reservations, call (978) 355-6444.

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The Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury St., Worcester, will have its annual picnic from noon to 5 p.m. June 23 in the church parking lot. The event is open to the public.

The picnic will move to the Cultural Center at the church in the event of inclement weather.

On the menu: shish kabob, chicken kabob, losh kabob and kheyma (Armenian version of steak tartare) and homemade baked goods.

There will also be live Armenian music and dancing. Bring family and friends.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.